Ford Motor Company F-Series pickups posted a 9 percent gain in May, while Ford van sales reached their best May sales since 1978. The company’s total U.S. sales of 235,997 vehicles declined 6 percent versus a year ago. Here to address these latest numbers is Erich Merkle, Ford Sales analyst.

Cut#1”We were down, probably not quite as much as the overall industry. Last year May 2015, we had five weekends in the month of May,  we had one weekend after Memorial Day weekend.  This year, in the month of May, we only had four weekends, and we didn’t have that extra weekend after the Memorial Day weekend.”: 20 sec.

On the other hand, sales on F-Series were up.

Cut#2”F-Series sales we continue to just do great with F-Series pickup trucks.  F-Series sales were up 9 percent, and that boosted our year-to-date number for F-Series by 7 percent, giving us a total through the month of May of 324,307 F-Series pickups sold.” :20 sec.

Sales were also up for the Ford Transit.

Cut#3”Our commercial van sales were the best since 1978, in fact that’s our best May performance in 38 years.” :08 sec.

The strong demand for SUV products continues to show promise with the new Ford Escape sales posting a 6 percent increase.

Cut#4”It was up 6 percent and that was a total of 30,861 SUVs sold, but as we look for the first five months of the year through May, Ford SUVs are having a record start, so we’ve sold more Ford brand SUVs through the month of May this year than at any time in company history, and that total brought us to 325,475 total Ford brand SUVs January through May of this year.” :31 sec.

Lincoln sales increased 7 percent, capping six straight months of gains.  All-new Lincoln MKX sales grew 88 percent with 2,794 vehicles sold. Lincoln’s best May SUV sales since in 13 years.